The ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute, the organization responsible for developing the ISA100 family of wireless automation standards, is offering an open membership program for all interested parties. The ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute is a consortium of manufacturing and automation control system users and suppliers working together to establish specifications and processes to be used in the testing and certification of wireless products and systems for ISA100 wireless standards.
According to its mission, the organization aims to decrease the time, costs, and risks of developing and deploying standards-based, industrial wireless devices and systems by establishing a collaborative, industry-based program among users, suppliers, and other stakeholders. Current sponsors include Airsprite, Honeywell, Invensys, NIVIS, Shell, Shenyang Institute of Automation, and Yokogawa.
The institute will conduct independent testing and certification of wireless devices and systems for the ISA100 Wireless Systems for Industrial Automation standards. It will also provide education and technical support to users and suppliers in the design, certification, deployment, and management of wireless devices and systems that utilize the ISA100 standards.
A document intended for specifying the test cases and test points for the ISA100.11a standard is currently under development. The ISA100.11a standard is being designed to provide an interoperable environment for wireless devices, and the institute”s test specification will assess their performance. Areas to be tested are the standard technology layers including application, transport, network, data link, and physical as well as major system components including security manager, system manager, and gateway, the document”s scope, objectives, development process, review process, and schedule have been approved by the institute.
The test specification development schedule includes several milestones, with a first review of the draft test specification already completed and a second review scheduled for the end of February. The first full draft of the test specification is scheduled to be complete in early April, in parallel with the release of the first full draft of the ISA100.11a standard for working group ballot. The second test specification draft is scheduled for release in early June, after edits are made based on the ISA100.11a working group ballot responses.
For more information about the ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute or to learn more about membership opportunities, call Andre Ristaino at 919 990-9222 or email [email protected].
